A BILL to amend and reenact §48-27-903 of the Code of West
Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to criminalizing a
violation of a restraining order entered upon a conviction for
stalking or harassment; and establishing penalties.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That §48-27-903 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as
amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

(a) AnyA person and, whois guilty of a misdemeanor if the
person knowingly and willfully violates:

(1) A provision of an emergency or final protective order
entered pursuant to:

(A) Subsection (a) or (b) of section five hundred two of this
article;

(B) If the court has ordered such relief; subsection (2), (7),
(9), or (14) of section five hundred three of this article;

(C) Subsection (b) or (c) of section five hundred nine,
article five of this chapter; or (D) subsection (b) or (c) of
section six hundred eight, article five of this chapter; or

(2) A condition of bail, probation or parole which has the
express intent or effect of protecting the personal safety of a
particular person or persons; is guilty of a misdemeanor and,or

(3) A restraining order entered pursuant to section nine-a,
article two, chapter sixty-one of this code.

Upon conviction thereof the person shall be confined in jail
for a period of not less than one day nor more than one year, which
jail term shall include actual confinement of not less than twenty-four hours, and shall be fined not less than $250 nor more than
$2,000.

(b) Any person who is convicted of a second offense under
subsection (a) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon
conviction thereof, shall be confined in jail for not less than
three months nor more than one year, which jail term shall include
actual confinement of not less than thirty days, and fined not less
than $500 nor more than $3,000, or both.

(c) A respondent who is convicted of a third or subsequent
offense under subsection (a) which the violation occurs within ten
years of a prior conviction of this offense is guilty of a
misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in jail
not less than six months nor more than one year, which jail term
shall include actual confinement of not less than six months, and
fined not less than $500 nor more than $4,000.

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(NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide a criminal
penalty for a violation of a restraining order entered upon a
conviction for stalking or harassment.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.)